Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1887-02-19
turn in the stairway hid the excelsioric

turn in the stairway hid the excelsioric
procession from view. The Major vented
his pent-up feelings in dammit" The
Judge sighed an emotional "weli" Doc
Cathcart smiled, looked around. pushed
back his chair and marched toward the
bar room. Bill Pateman, a local sport,
admitted himself beaten and said, take
the pot" While some of the rest con-
one.n During the afternoon Pateman got
a glimpse Of the strangers pocket-book.
and formed the opinion that it was pretty
well filed. Thinking thai a knowledge
of the new mans name would be of use to
him in the formation Of an acquaintance,
he consulted the register. Bill having
never been associated professionally with
DR.. Schieimann or other noted men of
| hieroglyphic p~ropensities failed in glean-
ing from the ponderous autographic album
the knowledge which he sought. Enquiryef
Boardman failed to bring out the fact.
CHATS something like a ]. that may be
an A, an II, an n, or an r. That may be
an 0 or a & and what the rest is-well, it
may be anything," was that photographic
| experts decision.
A suave inquiry by Boardman as to
what phonetic sounds the autograph rep
resented, was promptly replied to-: "Geech
sir, L. r. Geech'' he said in a voice that
sounded like the whistling of wind through
the frozen rigging Of a ship.
"Geech," unused the clerk. "Geech,
screech, Squeak quite appropriate indeed"
There was a poker game that night.
The Judge, the Major, Bill Pateman and
| Holdout-Jack, vita Mr.. Czech as a reluc-
tant fifth.
Mr.. Czech, though a rather silent and
not very brilliant player, who won but lit
tie. had a most surprising faculty for slz-
ing up meney, making change, arranging
the blinds and straddles in this game OF
draw. The Judge Who had on all other
OCCaSOi1S p1Gft OaS Y tt.1S tiS dSSat1LS i4S
position of arbiter and change maker, gave
way reluctantly to the stranger, paciiled
doubtless by the fact that Mr.. Czech was
ever ready TO exchange new or whole bills
for some OF the ragged and soiled enes
which had been i'll constant circulation for
some time. Czech even was SO obliging
.r rs ocoo,+ ftarolion rnfaS Of pnr. taxa
silver and smaller gold coin in exchange
Tor bills OF a large denomination. The
game was a red-hot one. They anted, went
blind, straddled. stood raises and went
better. It was half past three when the
Major laid down an ace full, beaten by
four fves in the hand of Hold-out Jack,
The game soon after broke up. Mr..
Czech was but little winner, and having
expressed a desire to play faro bank, Bill
Pateman was only too willing, and the re-
suit was that before daylight Bill Pateman
though not much ahead had managed to
exchange some OF his bank notes for the
crisp, bright g%reenbacks which came out
of the strangers pocket-book.
Morning came, breakfast was over and
the man of new clothes and new green.
backs went to bed.
It was nearly supper time, the up stage
came in and from out a nest of buffalo
robes emerged a wiry, little, sharp-featured
man whe speedily Invested himself of his
furry coverings, looked quickly around
examined the register, and suddenly turn
ing to Boardman said:
Had a very new mar here lately:"
The clerks eyes snapped as he replied
should say so, sir"
Here YETI" said the little man.
Eyes sir, hasn't got up yet; in room
forty-one."
The answer had hardly been delivered
when the shrrp eyes OF the little mar
sought the stairway and the. like a flash
he flew up stairs. Boardman was astonish'
ed, irresolute. Recovering his wits he
started for the stairway; when about halt
way up he met the little man coming
down; a long, subaued and earnest con
versation was had between them
In spite of the secrecy Of their talk, its
subject leaked out. The little man was Z
S. detective Learch. who with Boardman
the proprietor and the Judge had exam
ined the trunk and its contents. There
had been a revelation. The sieve-like hat.
the sun tanned, ragged coat, the o~veralls.
greasy vest and worn out overshoes were
all it contained, and when the detective
h,d +old +a,o ri ro and Rill pataman whr